Feels like midseason

We’re in the office over the weekend, so it feels like July…except for the rain outside.

If you didn’t see the comments section of the last post, be sure to check out the description of the Select-A-Seat event we had at the stadium today, where apparently fans were having quite an enjoyable time. We had tons of front office employees helping out, but that’s actually not the reason I’m here today.

From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. today, we had a breakfast and a lunch event with our Dodger affiliate radio stations from around the country. While the majority of these people come from around California (Palm Springs, Bakersfield, etc.), we’ve also got some from out of state and even the U.S. Virgin Islands. These stations broadcast Dodger games to fans that can’t get KFWB, so once a year they come in for an update on the upcoming season. Frank and Jamie McCourt both spoke to the group, as did Jaime Jarrin, Charley Steiner and several others.

Tonight, we’re heading to the Golden Mike Awards, where Vin Scully is going to be receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Radio Television News Association. And tomorrow, I’m going to be at the bone marrow drive at St. John Bosco High School in support of Nomar and Mia’s new foundation.

But, while these things are all indications that the season is about to start, there’s an even bigger one that all of you will enjoy. DodgerTalk is set to begin again, as the first one will air on KFWB 980 immediately following the Superbowl on Feb. 4. They will then air every Sunday at 8 p.m. throughout Spring Training, so be sure to tune in and get the latest news and information about the team.

i think betemit is gonna do some damage. from the right side he needs work. there was a little stretch there last season where he almost carried us. he will hit right handed pitching for power, lefties thats another story.

I like Betemit as our starting third baseman at the moment, but even more than that i like Nomar as our starting first baseman– he was so reliable defensively last year and looked so comfortable playing the position i see no reason to ask him to switch positions again. Also, i want to see Nomar playing baseball as long as possible, and first base will probably best accomodate that.
I LOVE pierre furcal one-two. I dont know if its going to happen, but i just think Furcal will have problems hitting in the three spot. I still think we could manufacture so many runs with pierre, furcal, nomar but i am skeptical of it working out that way. Just think about it: Pierre will get in field singles, steal second, and then Furcal and Nomar will rope singles and doubles all day long. Furcal will over extend himself in the three spot, and he is not very good when he becomes unselective. I like Loney as the PH/ defensive replacement at this point, but obviously he is so so talented and i want him to be a fixture at the corner for years.

Even though this is a slim-to-nil chance at this point, I was salivating at the thought of this possibility.

ESPN.com has an article about Ichiro’s contract running out at the end of this year, and whether or not Seattle would be willing (or able) to shell out the cash for him. (unfortunately, it’s an Insider story, so I didn’t get a chance to read it).

even though he’s got a few years on him (and we just got a new CF in Pierre), it’d be nice to have a surefire consistent .300 hitter to knock in all these guys on base we’re gonna have with our small-ball approach.

Of course, it’ll be well into summer before anything happens on that front, but I wouldn’t flinch at Ichiro’s resume.

Ichiro is a great player and who wouldn’t want a 320 hitter on a team. Problem is we have 300 hitters in Pierre, Furcal and Nomar. Just look at Gonzo vs Ichiro 2006, he hit more doubles 52 vs 20, more HR 15 vs 9, more walks 69 vs 49 and more RBI’s 73 vs 49. His OBP is about the same 352 vs 370, but the SLG is 444 vs 416 for Ichiro. Ichiro reminds me of a Rod Carew, all average but no run production. I think our needs are very clear, a big HR bat or nothing. Otherwise we have the tools to win. Believe in the Kids !!!

what I hope for is plenty of playing time for Loney, Kemp, and La Roche at spring training. I see LaRoche winning the third base job, Loney playing lots at first and the outfield, and Kemp serving notice that he is ready for a full time job in L.A. Betemit can back up at 3b and 2b, Martinez at ss.
I see Pierre/Furcal batting 1 and 2. If you have two guys with great speed, let them run wild, setting up Normar Kent, and Gonzo. Martin will provide timely hits at the 6th or 7 hole. Can’t wait until spring is here, at leas in Florida.

I like your lineup a lot Frank, and i really hope thats how it turns out. It’s all about that timely hitting- when you think about those names, Gonzo, Nomar, and at the back of the order Martin, and if Ethier is on like i know he can be it’s a really dangerous lineup top to bottom. They;re the type of gap hitters that can go on a tear, and when everyone is clicking they cannot be beaten.
That being said, i don;t see LaRoche winning the job, but Betemit stepping up. If both guys perform as capable it’s going to turn into a very tough situation. I really don’t know if LaRoche has that much more upside right now?? I haven’t seen him do anything in the majors.. I can’t wait to see how it plays out.

While this team is not a power team in the sense of HR, they certainly are not a singles team either. Every person in the lineup can hit doubles to both fields and that’s really how your score a lot of runs consistently.

Does anyone know if the Spring Training games are broadcasted on FSN West or PSN Prime. I finally got those stations this year with a DVR, and I cannot wait to watch every game I have never been so excited for a Spring Training. It is only a matter of time before I have season tickets. Just have to figure out how to convince the wife on that one.

1) Ichiro would be excellent in the outfield. First he hits for high enough average consistently that his OBP is good. Secondly, he’s a gold glove defender with a great throwing arm. Thirdly, he’s got a good work ethic and attitude. Were LA to acquire him, I would hope that they’d trade off Pierre so he could be a more significant upgrade, and at the same time not block Kemp or Ethier. Otherwise, as Gary made the point, we don’t need a third leadoff hitter.

2) With Pierre, I wouldn’t put Martin in the 2. Furcal is more suited to the 2 spot, and it is probably better for Martin to break up a potential full inning of work for a left-handed one out guy (LOOGY). So here’s what I’d look for

JP

Raffy

Nomar

Kent

Gonzo

Ethier

Martin

Betemit

And when you look at it, that’s still not a bad lineup. Not outstanding, but well-balanced.

3) Even with a good spring training, I don’t see LaRoche winning the third base job outright. Remember, Navarro hit something like .091 in Spring Training last year and still beat out Martin (who had a very good spring) because he was the “incumbent.”

4) I expect Luis Gonzalez and Jeff Kent to hit the DL this season. Gonzo will be replaced by Matt Kemp (who will move to right and Ethier back to left), and Kent will be replaced by Nomar sliding over to 2nd as Loney plays first. When Nomar is injured (come on, you want to put money on him playing 162?), Betemit will play some second base and Laroche will be called up.

5) Saito, Broxton, Beimel, Hendrickson, Tomko, Dessens, Tsao look as though they could make up the bullpen as the season begins, and things will get crowded once Brazoban is ready. Things will get more crowded as Greg Miller and Mark Alexander look better and better. That we will not be seeing the likes of Tim Hamulack, Lance Carter, Danys Baez, etc, bodes quite well for the Dodgers.

I did buy / get the book KDay !! It turned up in my Christmas stocking and my wife was soooo surprized !! My daughter and I are reading it together and once we’re done we’ll watch the DVD. Thanks again for the heads up !!

BTW, Harold slipped in the other day with a quick post, I think he’s in hibernation!!

Pats, your points are well taken and make all the sense in the world. I don’t think Ichiro is going anywhere but if he were available his price tag would be enormous. And I still don’t like his run production. Our only need is a big HR bat, we have plenty of guys that can get on base, probably the best in baseball right now !!

Ethier did a great job last year batting mostly #5-8. Imagine what he could do if they actually have to pitch to him. Plus, by moving him up in the order, you break up the lefties a little more. Remember, when we signed Nomar he was originally slated to be our #5 guy. With that lineup, we could be over .300 AVG #’s 1-7. Kent probaly will be more like .290 and Gonzo more like .275 – .280, but the potential is definitely there. I, for one, think Nomar and Kent won’t hit the DL this year. Call me an optimist, but I’m really trying to be positive.

Wow, the fever is hitting me again. We can talk about little else around the office. I think the only thing I am still unsure about is the Pierre deal. I like Pierre, I like his attitude and work ethic, I just don’t like the years on the deal. But, I would love to have him prove me wrong. I just wonder why we didn’t go after Roberts for two years or Lofton for one more. It would give the young guys more time to play with the rest they would need

Pierre is simply better. Much more reliable defensively, and while all three hitters are similar, Pierre almost always ends up with 200 hits while that is something Roberts has never accomplished and Kenny only once. They are all of a similar mold, but Pierre is so clearly superior in skills that i love this deal more than any other. I love having Pierre, base stealing, contact hitter, 1.000 fld.% CF locked up for 5 years. His work ethic and attitude just make it all the better of a deal. Also, a guy like Pierre is like a good german automobile– its not going to lose its value …

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